Exquisite Miniatures: In Cross Stitch and Other Counted Thread Techniques [Hardcover]

Brenda Keyes (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1998

Good things come in small packages-as these charming counted-stitch miniatures prove! Use your needlework skills to cross-stitch plants and animals, birds and trees, houses and baskets. At the start, you'll find a stitch directory and all the basic information needed to understand charts, calculate fabric quantities, and work with threads, hoops and frames. Then choose any one of the 34 projects, among them The Boxers, inspired by a 17th century sampler; bright Victorian flowers; and a golden cherub that's simplicity itself to make. Those who believe bigger is better can use the instructions for enlarging the patterns! A Selection of BOMC's Crafters Choice Book Club.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: David & Charles (May 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0715304356
• ISBN-13: 978-0715304358
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,134,903 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book of simple but superbly crafted designs., July 14, 1999

By 

Sue M. Isaacs (Wellington, New Zealand) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Exquisite Miniatures: In Cross Stitch and Other Counted Thread Techniques (Hardcover)

I was drawn to this book by the gloriously muted tawny brown colourings of many of the works, highlighted by a gorgeous range of frames. Many of the works are completed in tent stitch and are fast to work, others are worked as cross stitch one over one providing a beautiful effect. The author has given many ideas for incorporating designs and there are lots of framing ideas. The graphs are easy to follow and the photography is great.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fine addition to any embroiderer's library., June 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Exquisite Miniatures: In Cross Stitch and Other Counted Thread Techniques (Hardcover)

This book is an absolute delight! Brenda Keyes presents 34 miniature-size designs in a wide variety of styles. I wanted to start right in and not stop until I'd finished every one. Her sense of humor purmeates the book making it entertaining as well as informative. There is a lot of excellent information on finishing and the photography is first-rate.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful But Not For Beginners, August 14, 2005

By 

R. Cohen - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Exquisite Miniatures: In Cross Stitch and Other Counted Thread Techniques (Hardcover)

This is a really lovely book. The designs are wonderful and and carefully presented. The charts are clearly drawn with color coding and back and white notations so they can be Xeroxed for easy reference. The designs range in style from silhouettes, to South American designs, to Elizabethan flowers and a medieval bird with a Celtic boarder. They are all very clearly laid out.

The directions are not as extensive as they could be, but there is a stitch directory and a well organized introduction makes them easy to follow. Most of the designs are worked on linen in very high thread counts with tent stitch rather then classic cross stitch. Though these patterns are not actually miniature, most measure 3 to 5 inches, they are very small.

The book it's self is lovely. All the photos are full color and every design is shown framed. The frame selection is explained to help the reader decide on their own frames for their own projects.

Mostly due to their size, and due to the complexity of most of them, I do not recommend this book for beginners. Though they can be blown up to a larger designs using a lower count cloth, and they do not suffer for it, they are extremely complex.